Expert answer

Hi Dan,

Looks like you’re on the right track, yes. The change of ownership may be possible online if the van has the newer digital VRC (vehicle registration certificate - i.e. the logbook) and needs to be done by the company.

If you plan on using the van for any private use whatsoever then yes, you will need to change the motor tax, which is done at your local motor tax office. Note that the rate depends on the engine size of the van and that you’ll need insurance before you can do that.

I’d suggest looking into the insurance before you do anything else, as it can sometimes be tricky finding private insurance on a commercial vehicle.

Expert answer

Hi Caroline,

The only 'free' colour is called Unbleached Ivory. 

Atlas White or Tomboy Khaki are €295, while it's €595 for either Buttercream Yellow or Abyss Black.

It's the black paint on our test car shown here.

Expert answer

Hi Patrick,

The VRT would be 13.3 per cent of the OMSP (Open Market Selling Price) of the vehicle, which is the value Revenue believes it to be worth on the Irish market. That can be tricky to guess/estimate for specialised vehicles such as that, though we did find a similar one on Carzone.ie for about €32,000.

If Revenue chooses that as the OMSP then the VRT would be €4,256.

Expert answer

Hi Anita,

We can't tell from your registration if the car had a DPF when new as in the 2006-2009 period some Audis had and some did not. It's highly likely that it did.

If you can't get someone to physically check if it has a DPF fitted then you should at least have a DPF warning light on the dashboard. When you turn the ignition key on, but not the engine, a series of warning lights illuminate in the instruments. They then go off when the engine is running if all is well. One of those would be for a DPF if it is fitted. It is usually an orange or yellow light showing a box with dots inside it, like these:

If the car has this warning light, then it has a DPF.

Expert answer

Hi Alan,

Vehicle Registration Tax (VRT) for vans imported from Northern Ireland to the Republic of Ireland is typically calculated at 13.3 per cent of the vehicle's Open Market Selling Price (OMSP). However, certain vans qualify for a reduced VRT rate of €200. To be eligible for this reduced rate, the van must meet specific criteria:

- The van must have always had fewer than four seats.

- The van's laden mass must be greater than 130 per cent of its ‘mass in service’ (or 125 per cent for electric vans).

This applies to a lot of proper panel vans, though not usually car-based vans.

Expert answer

Hi Gerrit,

Unfortunately, that's not likely to be correct. The Open Market Selling Price (OMSP) is something that Revenue in Ireland come up with, based on what they believe the car to be worth in Ireland. It rarely is directly related to the amount you pay for the car in the North. 

You'll need to take a look around the Irish classifieds to see if you can find similar cars for sale already registered in Ireland. That will give you a rough approximation of the OMSP. Then you apply the 41 per cent to that. Even so, Revenue's figure might be dramatically different - especially on such a rare car. 

Expert answer

Hi Ger,

Only if the car is VAT-qualifying (usually an ex-company car or demo) and the invoice clearly shows a separate VAT amount. Most cars sold by dealers in the UK are through the VAT Margin Scheme where the dealer only pays VAT on their profit margin. That VAT cannot be reclaimed on export of the car.

Before committing to a sale, talk through this with the dealer in question.

Expert answer

Hi Ger,

If you’re sticking with automatic, then your choices are very limited. We found only the Opel Grandland and SsangYong Korando, neither of which we’d be huge fans of.

Here are the manual models we found that otherwise fit the brief:

Cupra Formentor: We really like this car as it looks great, and it drives well. You might find it a little too low down for your liking as it’s not as tall an SUV as the Qashqai, but worth a look.

Dacia Duster: Not quite as solid as the Qashqai perhaps, but it’s very comfortable and you’d get more for your money - you could get a 2024 version for example.

Ford Kuga: A comfortable and well-built option. Plenty of them about.

Hyundai Tucson: Very spacious inside and in the boot. Loads of them around as it has been the best-seller for so long. Despite that it still looks interesting outside. Good reliability. Strong reputation shown by the fact that you’d probably only afford a 2022 example with your budget.

Kia Sportage: Identical to the Tucson under the skin so it just comes down to which of the two you prefer the look of. Though the Kia has a longer warranty in terms of time if mileage is low.

Mazda CX-5: Fantastic to drive and feels like a premium car in comparison to most others here. Might cost a little more to run and they’re not very plentiful on the used market.

Peugeot 3008: A stylish replacement for the Qashqai. Solid car. Double-check you can get on with the cabin layout.

SEAT Ateca: Once one of our favourite cars of this size, though it is getting on in years now. Might not feel as modern as some cars on this list, but is still well made, comfortable and spacious.

That’s still quite a long list, admittedly, but hopefully it helps you drill things down to a shortlist. We have our own preferences, and you will, too.

Feel free to come back to us if you want further help of course.

Expert answer

Hi Joe,

You don’t have to fill in any forms before going to Northern Ireland to buy a car, but you will need to ensure you sort out the paperwork before bringing it south. You’ll need proof of purchase, the V5C document and of course proof of your own identity and address.

If the car was previously brought into the North from Great Britain, as a used car, then you’ll also need to check that it was imported properly and used by a private motorist. So long as it wasn’t just imported by the dealer and sold on - and you will need to prove that - then you shouldn’t have to pay any VAT or import duty.

You will of course be liable for VRT and the NOx levy.

Book an appointment with the NCTS for within 30 days of its arrival. There the car will be assessed for the VRT liability, so you’ll need to present all your paperwork then.

Expert answer

Hi Dave,

I’m not sure if would class as fraud as such, as nobody except you knows that you don’t intend to trade (though I’d advise you get actual legal advice on that, as that’s not our remit). However, a vehicle registered for commercial use cannot be used for any personal reasons and if you’re stopped, for example, bringing the kids to school in the SUV, then you are liable to a fine.

Aside from all that, you’ll be required to submit VAT returns and other accounting paperwork for the dormant business that will cost you at least some time, most likely some money, so you need to do the sums on that and calculate whether it’s worth the hassle.

Sounds like an awful lot of trouble to go to just to reduce your annual motor tax.